As you rightly say ML358 Lanigera is referred to Albilanata ssp. Oaxacana, which Michel Lacoste collected in Oax. 7km S. of Guelatao, km 164-165 of MEX-175, 1550m. It would also be the same for REP944 which Werner Reppenhagen collected in Oax. San Miguel Maninaltepec. 1700m. and also for LAU1128 which Alfred Lau collected in Oax. Yolox- Quiotepec. no altitude stated. It was David Hunt who picked the name of Albilinata subsp. Oaxacana and placed all other white - spined species found in this area, including Ignota and Lanigera amongst others, to synonyms. Your plant should therefore be labelled ML358 Albilinata subsp. Oaxacana, syn. Lanigera. All these species are part of the larger Supertextae series, which is a very variable clan. Also the general appearance of the other two plants differing from your one is due to this variability, and also the type of conditions all these plants are grown under in cultivation. More sun, less water and a more open compost for the more woolly plants and possibly more frequent watering,with a less gritty compost, and maybe some shade etc., for the less woolly plants. Also, the age of the specimen. Derek.

I will try to take some photos of these fo comparison purposes. Some are still young, others older plants.

When I went to Oaxaca in 2005, I saw a number of plants that would all come under the general albilanata ssp. oaxacana name, and I remember especially that over a 40 miles strecth of road, at three stops we found these plants and they were all somewaht different to each other. From admittedly a small sample, I think that I can confirm that they are quite a variable mix.

I think that what happened was that each "name" was given to a collection from a small area, and some of the differences were believed to be significant - like the amount of wool in the axils, in the apex, flower size and colour, spination..... What never seems to have been commented upon is what variability there was in the plant populations from which the original collections were made.

My ignota Lau 1128 grown from Mesa Garden seed looks exactly the same as the Lau 1128 (also from MG) pictured by Maurillo.I think that Chris is right with his statement that there are many slightly different forms.

I also have M. juxtlahuacensis ML 241, received from Michel Lacoste. These plants look much different from the very woolly plant pictured by Reppenhagen in his 2-volume book. My ML 241 have hardly any wool and they form offsets at the side of the plants. They look quite similar to M. halbingeri Lau 1108 which also forms offsets at the sides of the plants.

and now a few which are albilanata ssp albilanata (probably!)This is Rog 292 from Mogote, Guerrero,

and HO293 from Santiago Yosondua, Cascada de Agua, Oax.

All nice plants, with differences mainly in central spine number, colour and length, and probably the amount of wool. I've replaced some of my plants which were without field numbers, so not too many have developed significant wool - though that may be our weak British sun - except today when we have summer again for a few days at least!